eeece



(No Model.)

T. J. BEECH. Bee CASE PASTBNBR.

Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

- wz'nesses,

TOLBERT J. REECE, OF MEOHANICSBURG, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PETER E. COLWELTJ, JR., AND FRANK C. MILLER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

'EGG-CASE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentllo. 392,224, dated November 6, 1.888.

Application filed May 24, ISES. Serial No. 275,255. I No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, TOLBERT J. Renon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio, have invented ycertain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Case Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

'illy invention relates t0 improvements .in fastenings for egg-cases; and myinvention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an egg-case to which a fastening embodying my invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one end of the same, showing the lid slightly raised above the ease and in a position to be secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail view in section of the other end of the case, showing the rear portion of the fastening device.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents an eggcase of ordinary construction. B is the cover thereof, provided at either end with the projecting cleats a and a', adapted to fit over the ends of the case. The cover B is preferably made without side projections or flanges and extends over the entire top of the case, the sides and ends of which are preferably flush at the top, so that the cover [its snugly thereon. At either end of the case and located at a distance below the top thereof equal tothe width of the cleats c and a', I provide a cross-piece, I, secured firmly to the ends of the case by nails, screws, or in any other suitable manner. Extending outwardly from the cleat a at the rear of the case, preferably in aline parallel with the plane of the cover B, I provide a projecting stud, d, adapted to engage in an opening, d', in the end piece, A', of the case A. This projecting stud d is preferably bent at right angles and extended through the cleat e', and secured firmly therein by riveting or otherwise, as shown in Figs. l and 3, and is preferably so placed in the said cleat a that the bottom thereof stands flush with the bottom of said cleat. At the other end of the case A, 5o secured to the cover B and extending downwardly across the cleat a, is a springeatch, e, provided with an extended portion, e', adapted,

as the cover is forced downwardly, to come against the crosspiece b, and thus force the said catch outwardly until the cleat a comes in contact with the cross-piece b, and thus holds the cover firmly in place by catching under the cross-piece b.

In order to prevent any side movement of the cover B when in place upon the ease A, 6o the spring-catch eis let into the cleat a, so that a bearing is formed on either side of the said springeatch, the outer surface of which stands flush with the outer surface of the said cleat.

A notch, el, is also provided in the cross-piece Z corresponding in width with the springeatch, so that all lateral movement of the cover is prevented when the spring-catch is in place in the cleat b and within the notch e2. To pre-' vent wear upon the cross-piece D and hold the 7o parts firmly together, I provide a strip of metal,

e", under the crosspiece b, with which the spring-catch is adapted to engage. The opening d in the end piece, A', linto which the stud is adapted t0 project is made slightly larger 75 at the bottom than the stud d, so as to permit of an upward movement of the forward end of the cover B (provided with the spring catch) before said stud is disengaged.

rlhe operation of the device it is thought So will be readily understood from the above dcscription. The projection d is first inserted into the opening d', with the lid or cover in substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. The lid or cover is then drawn forward until the cleat c comes in contact with the end piece, A', of thc case, with the projection d in the opening d. The cover B is then forced downward until the spring-catch c engages in the notch c and over the plate e3, and thus 9o holds the whole firmly together.

By the construction thus described it will be seen that the cover B is not only held firmlyin position on the case, but is held against lateral movement thereon without the use of side projections or flanges, thus leaving the top and sides of the case flush and of uniform height.

The fastening-stud d being secured in the cleat a', as described, is entirely concealed,'and loo the spring-catch being let into the eleata and the notch c2 leaves the ends of the ease perfectly ilnsh Without any projecting fastening devices to interfere with each other or become broken in packing.

It will be seen that by the use of the fastener ahove described when lhelid is placed in position on the ease and pressed down thereon the fastening is automatically accomplished Without further manipulation. This is of great advantage in egg-cases, as with the various fastenings in use, which require to be turned to a different position or otherwise manipnlated to lock the lid, they frequently remain unlocked when returned andthe fillers become lost.

Itis obvious that the construction herein described is not confined in its usefulness to eggeases, but may be applied to berry and fruit crates, chicken-coops, or various other kinds of shipping-cases embodying substantially the same construction.

Having` thus described my invention, l claimw l. In a case substantially as described, the cover provided with the end cleats adapted to fit over the ends of said case, a right-angled projecting stud in one of said cleats and pro- J'eeting forward in a line parallel with the plane of said cover, a spring-catch at the opposite end of said cover extending through a notch in the end cleat which forms side bearings therefor, and a cross-piece under which said spring is adapted to engage, said cross-piece being notched to forni side bearings for said spring-catch, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a ease having the ends and sides flush with the top and provided with cross-pieces on the ends thereof, of a cover having cleats adapted to rest on said crosspieees, one ofsaid cleats being provided with a projecting stud parallel with the plane of said cover and the other cleat being provided with a spring-catch which is let into said cover and cleat, so as to form a side bearing therefor, a notch in the cross-bar adapted to receive said spring-catch, and a plate under said crosshar with which said catch is adapted to engage, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set n1 y hand this 19H1 day of May, A. D. 1888.

TOLBERT J. REECE.

Witnesses:

l. S. CHENEY, PAUL A. STALEY. 

